VF Mix 142: Guru by Grant

Down the backstreets with the producer and MC who changed the sound of hip-hop forever.

Keith Edward Elam, better known as Guru, first came to fame as a one-half of pioneering duo Gang Starr. During their international ascent, Guru also launched his game-changing collaborative project Jazzmatazz, which fused jazz with hip-hop like never before.

Paying tribute to the hip-hop heavyweight is Marseille-based producer and Lobster Theremin associate Grant, who released his latest, white-label EP Grant004 earlier this year.

Listen to the mix, find out why Grant chose Guru and check out the track list below:

“Guru, via all of his different projects and aliases – solo under his own name, for his Jazzmatazz series or under his superstar duo Gang Starr with DJ Premiere – is one of my favourite artists of all time.

His singular voice, tone and flow are unmatched in the hip-hop world, and went on to inspire so many other artists across the scene, and music in general.

He left such a massive footprint in the mid-nineties for quality, to this day this music still stands the test of time, and he is sorely missed. RIP Keith Edward Elam.”

Tracklist

1. Guru & MC Solaar – Le Bien Le Mal
2. Gang Starr – Just To Get A Rep
3. Guru – Trust Me (CJ Radio Edit)
4. Gang Starr – Skills
5. Guru – Jazzmatazz – Down The Backstreets
6. Donald Byrd / Guru – Loungin’ (Smash Instrumetal)
7. Gang Starr – Gusto
8. Guru – Respect The Architect (Buckwild Remix)
9. Gang Starr – You Know My Steez
10. Guru – Whos There feat. Les Nubians
11. Gang Starr – Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot)
12. Gang Starr – Step in the Arena
13. Gang Starr – Code Of The Streets
14. Gang Starr – Royalty(Best Quality)
15. Gang Starr – No More Mr. Nice Guy
16. Gang Starr – Mass Appeal

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Grant004 is out now.